Month: March 2020

Harrison County and City of Marshall Issue Mandatory Shelter in Place Orders

[Marshall, Texas, March 31, 2020]

Harrison County and City of Marshall Issue Mandatory Shelter in Place Orders

First Amended Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease

[Harrison County and Marshall, Texas] Harrison County Judge Chad Sims and City of Marshall Mayor Terri Brown confirm a second and third positive case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Harrison County. In each case, the cause of COVID-19 exposure was travel-related. County and City leadership believe it to be in the best interest to be proactive and take measures to further safeguard our citizens and prevent community spread. In response, Judge Sims and Mayor Brown are both issuing Mandatory Shelter in Place orders effective at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020.

                Under this Order, citizens of Harrison County and the City of Marshall are still permitted to perform essential activities for their families; including obtaining medical supplies, visiting a health care provider, obtaining supplies they need to work from home, grocery shopping, engaging in outdoor activities while maintaining social distancing, and to perform work defined as an essential service. Citizens at a high risk of illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are urged to remain in their residence except to receive medical care.

                Essential services are defined as all first responders, emergency management personnel, individual performing government functions, healthcare operations, essential infrastructure, grocery stores, farmers’ market, food banks, pet stores, farming, livestock, fishing, social services, media, gas stations, auto supply/repair, banks, hardware, mailing services, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, laundromats, dry cleaners, restaurants, office supplies, airlines, private transportation, home-based services or shelters for seniors, adults or children, professional services (legal, accounting, insurance, real estate, appraisal, survey, and title), childcare, utilities, telecommunications, janitorial, maintenance, healthcare operations, funerals, defense industry, and educational services operating online. A full list of all essential services may be found in the Ordinance at www.marshalltexas.net.

Non-essential businesses shall shut down except for maintaining Minimum Basic Operations.  Essential Businesses exempted from shut-down are encouraged to determine staff who are essential to operations and to send non- essential staff home.

For the purposes of this Order, “Essential Travel” includes travel for any of the following purposes:

•             Any   travel   related   to   the provision of or access to Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Businesses, or Minimum Basic Operations;

•             Travel to care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons;

•             Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services;

•             Travel to return to a place of residence from outside the jurisdiction;

•             Travel required by law enforcement or court order; or

•             Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the City. Individuals are strongly encouraged to verify that their transportation out of the City remains available and functional prior to commencing such travel.

When citizens need to leave their places of residence, whether to obtain or perform vital services or to otherwise facilitate authorized activities necessary for continuity of social and commercial life, they should at all times comply with the Social Distancing Requirement.

Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Order constitutes an imminent threat to public health. In accordance with Texas Government Code §418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this Order commits an offense punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 and/or confinement in jail for a term that does not exceed 180 days, and each day or portion of a day that such a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

                The Emergency Management Team will continue to meet with leaders from Harrison County, Marshall – Harrison County Health District, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System – Marshall, and City of Marshall monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis and providing notices to citizens as needed.

Harrison County and the City of Marshall are following the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines and recommendations on the steps our community can take to help prevent catching or spreading the coronavirus (COVID-19). This is a situation that continues to evolve and we will do our best to keep our citizens informed of the latest information.

Harrison County and the City of Marshall urge our community to practice healthy habits including:

1.        Restrict physical contact and publicly used areas.

2.        Maintain Social Distancing with a safe distance of six (6’) feet between individuals.

3.       Every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of 10 or more per Executive Order of Governor Abbott.

4.         Residents should not visit nursing homes, retirement, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.

5.        In accordance with the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors. Residents may still utilize drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options through the Executive Order.

6.        Regularly wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

7.        Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.

8.        If soap is not available, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

9.        Avoid close contact with people who are sick. All persons should remain in the home if one person in the home exhibits symptoms

If you are experiencing fever, cough or difficulty breathing, been exposed to a sick traveler or been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please contact your healthcare provider immediately. Inform your physician or emergency department of your symptoms to prevent any potential spread.

The City of Marshall will hold City Commission meetings utilizing a video and audio conferencing tool, as well as, a standard conference call.  Instructions and direct links to view meetings or speak during Citizen Comment can be found at http://www.marshalltexas.net.


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Research. Read. Analyze. Think.

By George Smith

If you believe, truly believe, that President Trump is saying the right things, making the right decisions and creating and directing a federal response system to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, you are wrong. Sorry, but that’s the truth.

Research. Read. Analyze. Think.

Fact: The president delayed important decisions that could have curtailed or weakened the magnitude of the virus because he wanted to prop up the stock market.

He repeatedly pooh-poohed the seriousness of the growing problem despite evidence of the virus’ potential from other countries and from his own medical experts.

His blatant lies will be his legacy.

Quote: “Nobody knew there would be a pandemic or epidemic of this proportion.”

This is not a misstatement; it is a lie.

There is factual evidence, however, that not only was the Trump administration warned about the potential of a pandemic and its dangers to Americans, it was given a plan on how to deal with it, which it promptly shelved.

Quote: “Anybody that needs a test gets a test. We – they’re there. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful”

Without basis, Trump has claimed the US has done an excellent job in testing people for the coronavirus. As early as January, the president said the situation was “totally under control”. Just six weeks later the US had emerged as the new global center of the pandemic.

In reality, healthcare providers faced a severe shortage of testing kits as coronavirus hit the US, with the situation exacerbated by faults in the testing system and restrictions on who could actually take a test. A big disparity opened up whereby rich or famous people were able to get

Quote: “I’ve always known this is a real – this is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic. I’ve always viewed it as very serious”

You cannot have it both ways. Trump believes otherwise; he us delusional and truly believes if he says it, it is true. Whatever he says, he believes his troops, his followers will believe him, not facts, but his alternative reality.

Quote: “ lAmericans will have access ‘to vaccines, I think, relatively soon.”

A “bigly” lie.

He was contradicted by Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, who pointed out: “You won’t have a vaccine. You’ll have a vaccine to go into testing.”

Dr Fauci and others at the meeting confirmed that clinical trials – standard for any new vaccine – would have to take place first. A vaccine is more likely to be a year or 18 months away.

Again: Research. Read. Analyze. Think.


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THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

By George Smith

The elephant in the room keeps getting bigger. And no one with any national status is talking about it…at least in any way, shape or form that is breaking through the constant clamor of “COVID-19”.

The elephant? National deficit and debt.

In the past decade, since the “fiscally conservative” Republican Party controlled  both houses of Congress from 2010 to 2018 and the presidency since 2017, the debt has increased exponentially.

The last time the federal government had a surplus was under President Bill Clinton. (Go ahead and check. I’ll wait.)

In February 2020, the public debt of the United States was around $23.4 trillion, more than $1.29 trillion more than a year earlier, when it was around $22.1 trillion. (Note: A trillion has 12 zeroes/- $1,000,000,000,000.

And, that does not include the $2.200,000,00,000 just approved in democratic socialist stimulus checks approved this week by a bipartisan vote in both houses.

And, a second round of bailouts for other needy entities, like non-profits will be rolled out soon.

The national debt now stands just shy of $26,000,000,000,000. (1,2,3….12 zeroes. That’s right..) so, I owe more than $69,000 for my share of the debt; my supreme spousal unit also owes that amount. So do our six kids and their kids and the baby born a few minutes ago.

The so-called tax cut in 2017 added $2-plus trillion the debt .. and few in power blinked an eye. 

The elephant in the room is sick with a disease with a worse disease than COVID-19. Our elected officials — all those who think the elephant is a “fig newton” of their imagination and will, somehow, some day, just magically vanish — are guilty of dereliction of duty and malignant neglect of their fiduciary responsibilities as gatekeepers of tax dollars.

Of course, in times like these, drastic actions must be taken to preserve the republic.

But when the debt burden becomes too heavy to bear — and it will — the resulting tumult will make the coronavirus pandemic look like a few people with bad allergies.

Count on it. The clock is ticking.


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Coronavirus: One case lays bare America’s testing failure

By Aleem MaqboolBBC News, Washington
“Trace, test and treat” has been the mantra of global health bodies in tackling the spread of Covid-19. But innumerable cases around the country show it is a model the United States has failed to recreate.

“I’m still sick, it hasn’t improved. I’m coughing, I’ve been feverish and my left lung hurts. There have been times the wheezing and the gurgling in my chest have been so bad at night that it’s woken me up. There’s no doubt I have all the symptoms.”

Claudia Bahorik – who is 69 and lives in Bernville, Pennsylvania – does not say this lightly. As a retired physician herself, she has done her research.

But this is the story of Dr Bahorik’s determined, though so far unsuccessful plight – involving clinics, hospitals and even a senator’s office – to find out if she has the coronavirus.

It all started as far back as the last week of February. Dr Bahorik had recently been on a trip to New York with her great niece, and soon after developed a cough and a fever, though it appeared to subside.

She carried on as planned, performing jury duty, attending the funeral of a friend and travelling to Washington DC for a medical appointment.

What crisis reveals about US and

TrumpTrump says US tested more than S Korea – is he right?

While she cannot be certain when she got infected, in early March, Dr Bahorik became extremely ill.”By 9 March I was coughing so hard and I could hardly walk, and at that point I really suspected I had the coronavirus.”So began Dr Bahorik’s quest to get tested, one that she documented.

Two-week timeline

9 March – visits family doctor

Claudia Bahorik sees her family doctor who agrees that she should have a coronavirus test. The local health system’s protocol requires that he first carry out an influenza test, a test for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), a chest X-ray and some laboratory work to rule out other possibilities.She goes home to await those results.

10 March – denied a coronavirus test

The doctor informs Claudia that while tests ruled out the other causes, Pennsylvania Department of Health did not give approval for her to get a coronavirus test.She does not meet the criteria of having known exposure to someone who had tested positive for coronavirus, or travelled to a country deemed to be high risk.

Calls health officials and politicians

Frustrated and even more ill, Dr Bahorik calls the Department of Health. Despite exhibiting symptoms, and given her age and previous spells of pneumonia, they were inflexible.On protesting, a nurse suggests she speak to her congressman. She calls the office of Senator Bob Casey, where she is advised to contact the Department of Health.

15 March – drives hour to testing site

After several terrible days of sickness, Dr Bahorik hears of eight coronavirus testing sites in the neighbouring county of Lehigh Valley.It is an hour’s drive and she is feeling weak but goes to the test centre in Macungie, Pennsylvania.

Denied test again

Once again she is told that because she had not travelled to a high risk country or been in known contact with someone with coronavirus, she cannot have a test.Having once been a doctor in the US Army Reserve, Dr Bahorik contacts her Veterans Affairs hospital. They later tell her that they do not have Covid-19 testing kits.By this stage, Dr Bahorik’s chest pain and coughing has worsened.

17 March – sent to hospital emergency room

Claudia Bahorik calls back her family doctor.She is told to go to the emergency room at nearby St Joseph’s Hospital, where the clinician in charge has given assurances she can get a coronavirus test.At the hospital, she has to do another flu test and RSV test, this time, however, the new chest X-ray shows she has now developed pneumonia in her left lung.Finally gets coronavirus testDr Bahorik gets a test, though getting the nasal sample makes her nose bleed, covering the swab with blood.She is sent home with antibiotics and told to wait 3-5 days for result of the test.

23 March – test results delayed

Dr Bahorik calls the hospital to be told that the wait for test results is now 10 days because the samples were sent off to laboratories that are currently overwhelmed.She has not responded to the antibiotics, and remains ill.

Who else could have been infected?

“They keep reporting that there are so few cases in my county, but they are not testing,” Dr Bahorik tells me.”I feel like I’ve done as much as I can, but that the system has beaten me down,” she says.

“I almost feel like I’m a lone voice screaming, ‘Open your eyes, we have to do something about this!’

“Dr Bahorik accepts that a test would do nothing to help her condition, but if she does have coronavirus she could at least definitively tell that to all of those that she came into contact with in the early days.

Is S Korea’s rapid testing the key to coronavirus?

How Singapore stayed one step ahead of the virus

Two days in particular play on her mind; the day in early March on which she shared a room with dozens of prospective jurors, and the funeral the following day.

“There were between 50 and 75 people, a lot of them around my age at the funeral and I hugged a bunch of them,” she says, clearly distressed.

“If I was carrying it then I could have infected up to 150 people just in those two days. A lot of my friends want to know the result of my test.

“But nothing has yet been done to trace where she might have got her infection or to isolate those she came into contact with.

Why does it take so long to get tested?

None of the hospitals or clinics Dr Bahorik visited were prepared to talk about the specifics of her case, but we did hear from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which had twice denied her a test on the basis she was not eligible.

“We were following established criteria from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention),” says Dr Rachel Levine, the Pennsylvania Health Secretary who spoke of a gradual increase in testing capacity.

“We now no longer require a person to have known exposure or travel criteria, but we do still have priorities; firstly hospitalised patients, very ill patients and healthcare workers,” she says, explaining limits in testing capability that remain primarily because of shortages in the reagents needed.

Is it too late for a ‘trace, test, treat’ strategy?

Dr Levine acknowledged that the window had probably now closed on a South Korea-style approach of widespread testing (even of those who do not show symptoms), and trying to trace the path of the virus.

“That was a population-based protocol that was done early on in South Korea and in some other areas such as Singapore and Hong Kong. But in the United States, we did not have the ability to do that and we are now at a later stage in the pandemic for it to be effective,” she says.

Every day the White House issues assurances about the availability of testing and this country’s unrivalled ability to keep the impact of the virus to a minimum.

But it is testing that has been such a crucial element of controlling the spread of the virus in countries that are seen as having been successful in doing so. Anecdotal evidence from every part of the nation, like Dr Bahorik’s experience, illustrates how difficult it remains for countless Americans to get a coronavirus test.


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City of Marshall Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease

[Marshall, Texas, March 26, 2020]

On March 26, 2020, at 11:30 a.m., City of Marshall Mayor Terri Brown issued a Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease in conjunction with Harrison County Judge Chad Sims as a positive test of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been reported in Harrison County, Texas. Additional information and data are being collected at this time. The City of Marshall Emergency Management Team composed of representatives from the City of Marshall, Harrison County, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System – Marshall and the Marshall – Harrison County Health District continue to meet on a regular basis to review developments and make appropriate responses to safeguard our community.

Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease

WHEREAS, the disease Covid-19 currently poses a significant health risk to the residents of the City of Marshall and has been declared a World, National and State Health Emergency; and,

WHEREAS, the Covid-19 disease was confirmed to exist in Harrison County as of March 26, 2020; and,

WHEREAS, as City of Marshall Mayor, I have concerns regarding finite accommodations for an influx of local Covid-19 patients, personal protective equipment shortages for emergency response personnel and the potential for the escalating spread of the disease in pandemic form; and,

WHEREAS, it is necessary to preserve and protect the public health of the residents of the City of Marshall with the disease already present in the County; and,

WHEREAS, on the date of this declaration, the Harrison County Judge has also issued a declaration of a public health emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY TERRI BROWN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MARSHALL, TEXAS:

l.          That a local state of disaster and public health emergency is hereby declared in the City of Marshall pursuant to §418. l08(a) of the Texas Government Code.

2.         Pursuant to §418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code, the local state of disaster and public health emergency shall continue for a period of not more than seven (7) days from the date of this declaration unless continued or renewed by the Marshall City Commission.

3.         Pursuant to §418.108(c) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster and public health emergency shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the City Secretary.

4.         Pursuant to §418.108(d) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster and public health emergency activates the Marshall Emergency Management Plan.

5.         Pursuant to §418.108(g) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster authorizes the Mayor to control ingress to and egress from the City of Marshall and to control the movement of persons and the occupancy of premises within the City of Marshall.

6.         All officers and employees of the City of Marshall, including without limitation all law enforcement officers employed by the City of Marshall and all emergency medical personnel employed by the City of Marshall, are hereby authorized and directed to cooperate to the fullest extent allowed by law with the health authority designated by the City of Marshall pursuant to Chapter 121 of the Texas Health and Safety Code to enforce any and all communicable disease control measure by said health authority pursuant to Chapter 81 of the Texas Health and Safety Code or other applicable law.

This declaration shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance. ORDERED and DECLARED this 26th day of March 2020.

Terri Brown
Mayor, City of Marshall

 
Citizens are urged to follow following the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) national guidelines and the Executive Order GA-08 by Governor Greg Abbott.
It has been expressed that our community practice Social Distancing which includes:
1.         Restrict physical contact and publicly used areas.
2.         Maintain a safe distance of six (6’) feet between individuals.
3.         Every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of 10 or more per Executive Order of Governor Abbott.
4.         Residents should not visit nursing homes, retirement, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
5.        In accordance with the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors. Residents may still utilize drive-thru, pickup, or             delivery options through the Executive Order.
6.         Regularly wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
7.         Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
8.         If soap is not available, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
9.         Avoid close contact with people who are sick. All persons should remain in the home if one person in the home exhibits symptoms.

If you are experiencing fever, cough or difficulty breathing, been exposed to a sick traveler or been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Be sure to call before going to your doctor or an emergency department to prevent any potential spread.


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DAN PATRICK

By George Smith

First, I do not consider myself or Bobbie Jean McCarty Smith as collateral damage or expendable.

We are both “semi-colon” people; you know, like when a writer inserts a semicolon, we ain’t done yet.

Yet, at almost 75 and 73 respectively, that’s the status assigned to us by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick who suggested some deaths should be considered acceptable to jump-start the economy due to the economic slooow-down caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the headline that stopped me on my tracks Tuesday; “Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Wants to Sacrifice Seniors to Save the Economy”.

Patrick said, “No one reached out to me and said, as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren? And if that’s the exchange, I’m all in.”

Wait! Whoa! Calf rope! King’s X! Stop!

Is he saying that a few hundred (thousand?) funerals of Baby Boomers are a good trade-off for opening up

restaurants, schools, movie theaters and concert venues?  Is my life or the life of even one American of any age  an even swap for being able to go to Disney World a little sooner than is medically advisable?

Is he basically saying that this virus could take his life (or mine or your’s) and death would be better than a repressed economy?

Surely, that is not what he’s suggesting, right?

Where could this elected public  official be getting this ingrown-hair-into-his brain idea?

Earlier in the day President Donald Trump and his chief economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, said that the economic cost of shutting down the country in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 may not be worth it.

Do individual Americans get a vote? Do I get a choice on whether I stick around to love my wife a while longer, wrap my kids and grandkids in fluffy hugs and try and be a contributor to society…OR take an early dirt nap so you and the other survivors can  walk in on Obese Thursday at Golden Corral and chow down on the mile-long grease-goodies buffet?

Is this what our leadership has come to…saying that it’s okay if government shuts down the shutdown and I succumb in the aftermath, and if I should die it’s a small price to pay for a stable stock market.

Well, shut the front door!

If you, Dan Patrick, want to go toe’s-up for a 10 point jump in the Dow Jones, get after it, Brave Bubba!

But leave me and mine out of your myopic schemes. We’ll face whatever comes by standing strong and not laying supine while someone drones on with a syrupy eulogy.


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Nicolas Kristof: 12 steps to tackle the Coronavirus

At least Emperor Nero supposedly only fiddled while Rome burned; he didn’t tell the Romans that the fire was no big deal.

President Trump squandered two precious months trying to downplay the coronavirus while attempting to talk up the stock market. We still have no idea how many Americans are infected, because the administration bungled diagnostics. As of a few days ago, South Korea had conducted up to 700 times more tests per capita than the United States.

Trump’s passivity will cost lives, but we can still make preparations before hospitals risk becoming overwhelmed by a pandemic that is both more contagious than the seasonal flu and apparently many times more lethal. Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warns that in a plausible worst-case scenario, this virus could kill more than one million Americans.

After speaking to epidemiologists and public health specialists, I have a list of some practical steps that the president and other officials should take immediately, while there is time.

1. Invest in a huge rollout of free testing so that we know who is sick. The University of Washington set up a drive-through system so that certain people can be tested without contaminating a clinic.

2. Cancel large gatherings in parts of the country where community transmission is occurring, as Gov. Jay Inslee has done in Washington State. Employers should encourage people to work from home where possible. Even with social distancing, more than one-third of Americans may eventually be infected (a worst case is that 70 percent become infected, as Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has cautioned for her country).But lives will be saved by flattening the curve so that infections grow more slowly. We are much better off if 100 million Americans contract the coronavirus over 18 months rather than over 18 weeks, and this also gives scientists the chance to test treatments and develop vaccines, and to see if warmer weather helps. South Korea’s experience suggests that aggressive measures, well short of China’s, do help.

3. Expand telemedicine so that patients can get medical advice while staying home. The aim is for people to NOT go to a doctor’s office or E.R. unless necessary.

4. Plan for hospitals to be overwhelmed, as happened in Wuhan, China, in Iran and northern Italy. Epidemiological models suggest that by April we could have millions of Americans infected, and the danger is that people with other ailments die for want of care in the chaos. Epidemiologists suggest that we could easily see 100 million infections of the new coronavirus in the United States, of which 5 or 10 percent might require hospitalization and 1 percent might need a ventilator. That could mean almost one million people needing ventilators just for Covid-19, though not all at the same time, yet we have only about 72,000 full ventilators in the United States.

5. Cancel vacations of health workers, bring back retired doctors and nurses, and repurpose cardiologists and pediatricians to deal with a torrent of coronavirus patients — in expectation of record numbers of doctors out sick. We should prepare to allow military medics to assist in E.R.s as well.

6. Make nursing homes, assisted-living centers, homeless shelters, prisons and dialysis treatment centers safer, by encouraging use of personal protective equipment and limiting visitors.

7. Make plans in case first responders, such as firefighters and ambulance paramedics, become sick in large numbers. That may mean calling in the National Guard.

8. Ensure that as many people as possible have access to medical care. That means expanding Medicaid in remaining states, and establishing a mechanism so that no one needs to pay (including a co-pay or deductible) for testing for or treatment of Covid-19.

9. Congress should promptly pass legislation (shamefully stalled for the last 16 years) mandating paid sick leave for all workers.

10. Greatly step up production of personal protective equipment needed in hospitals. Some hospitals are already running short of N95 masks, and America’s emergency stockpile has only 12 million N95 masks — approximately a one-day supply for the country during an epidemic.

11. Prepare for public school students to attend classes remotely in parts of the country most affected. Researchers found that during the 1918 Spanish flu, cities that canceled schools and public gatherings — and did so early — fared better than other cities. Unfortunately, today at least six million American schoolchildren don’t have internet access at home; that may mean that schools hand out hotspots, and laptops to students without computers. A nonprofit called FirstBook is trying to send out six million books to low-income schools so that kids can at least read while at home.

12. Instead of bailing out airlines or cruise lines, make people in quarantine eligible for unemployment insurance and waive work requirements for benefit programs. Don’t let struggling families become homeless because they suddenly can’t make the rent or meet mortgage payments.

Enough fiddling, Mr. President. Let’s roll.


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A MAJOR MILESTONE

By George Smith

As major milestones in life approach, it’s been my style, so to speak, to do a personal inventory of…me.

Who am I? What have I done? What have I done that has been worthwhile, that has contributed to the betterment of the community at large?

I have been a part of amazing and worthwhile developments: Jason, Mattie, Brandie, Cameron are my proudest co-accomplishments.

But on a more earthly, human level, I am a writer. I must write to truly feel alive.

I write because I must, because the thoughts that swirl inside need freedom. That does not mean I am personally Trump-proud of the words that flow or that I want readers to heed my words as the Gospel According to St. George. To me, writing is an addictive obsession, a harbinger calling to read, research, analyze, think.

I have never written a single, focused phrase (or blurred one, for that matter) trying to change anyone’s mind. Ever.

But if any words that have ever passed  through my fingers caused one person  to truly “think” about their situation, belief or preference, then I believe I have accomplished something worthwhile.

Too many people today do not think, being content to be in the lemming-clan, kowtowing to mass-think, relieved to be released from the tiring process of reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking.

As my 75th birthday closers in, I thank God I never fell into the trap of just reacting and following the herd and … not expressing my hopes, dreams, opinions and beliefs in a straightforward manner, warts and all.

At this time in my life, all is good.


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Marshall Suspends Events as Safeguard to COVID-19

[Marshall, Texas, March 13, 2020]

As a cautionary move, the City of Marshall will suspend all events in city facilities and parks beginning March 16, 2020, and lasting until April 15, 2020. This will include events at facilities, such as the Marshall Convention Center, Memorial City Hall, Marshall City Arena, Marshall Visual Arts Center, Marshall Main Street downtown, Community Centers and all league events at parks.

City Manager Mark Rohr stated, “this safeguard is in place for our citizens and our visitors. We also have an obligation to region, state, and country to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.”

The City of Marshall will continue to hold public meetings related to the City Commission and City Board functions. Hand sanitizer will be available at all City of Marshall meetings for the health of our residents. The City requests residents who are experiencing symptoms such as cough or fever to refrain from attending these meetings. Residents who have traveled to affected areas are also asked to refrain from attendance. Any citizen may submit a written statement to be read at City Commission meeting in the Public Comments by emailing the statement to nickerson.stormy@marshalltexas.net. The City of Marshall encourages residents to stream City Commission meetings live on our Facebook page at City of Marshall – City Hall and on our local Fidelity Communications access channel.

The City of Marshall leaders and staff will continue to monitor the situation on an ongoing basis and notify residents and visitors of community updates.

“Like many of you, we have spent the last few weeks learning and monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it has affected and will further impact our community. The City of Marshall’s Emergency Management team along with the City of Marshall, Harrison County representatives and the Marshall Harrison County Health District representatives have monitored daily conference calls with the State pertaining to the COVID-19. We are continuously monitoring this constantly changing chain of events. We want to assure everyone that we are connected and working with government experts, neighboring cities and others to get the latest in information and instruction,” stated Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Chief Reggie Cooper.

The City of Marshall is following the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines and recommendations on the steps our community can take to help prevent catching or spreading the disease. This is an attempt to share specific instructions with our citizens. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we will do our best to keep our citizens informed of the latest information.

1. It has been expressed that communities practice Social Distancing which include:

a. Restrict physical contact such as handshaking. Use a closed fist to greet and in situations such as in pressing buttons to elevators, community keypads, publicly used buttons, light switches etc.

b. Maintain a safe distance of six (6’) feet between individuals.

c. Open doors when possible with closed fist or hip, trying not to grasp with your hands.

d. Avoid large gatherings

i. People should consider limiting or eliminating travel involving flights or cruises.

2. Practice good personal hygiene practices such as:

a. Hand washing, coughing into tissue or elbow, avoiding touching of eyes, nose or mouth.

b. Regularly wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

c. If soap is not available, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

4. Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

6. Stay informed by using any of the following sites:

www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus

www.mynethealth.org/services/public-emergency-preparedness/coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

7. You can also contact the Marshall-Harrison County Health District at 903-938-8338 or 1-866-310-9698.

READING ABOUT THE 45TH PRESIDENT

By George Smith

Sitting in the front porch in my king-throne rocker, reading my eighth book on the 45th president and enjoying a cup of Starbucks Pike Place coffee. 

The Heat Dish is keeping me toasty and Bonedawg is keeping me company, although he is hating the rain. “There’s squirrels to chase, Dad! Make it stop!”

The book on TrumpWorld by conservative political lobbyist, marketing and branding guru Rick Wilson, who worked on Trump’s 2016 campaign, is a rollicking, laughter-filled diatribe about a right-wing operative who quickly saw through the corruption and yeehaw operations of the Trump regime and admittedly is trying to cleanse his soul (and reputation) by declaring that not only does is Emperor Trump nekkid, but that he is also without  ethics, moral substance, or enough intelligence on any global topic to make an calculated judgement on any meaningful topic.

In a phrase, Wilson is a creative, literary genius, putting together stories and descriptive  phrases that are both hilarious and memorable. Like:

— Trump followers believe he is a mystic, wondering, for example, “Can Trump’s bath water truly cure psoriasis?”

— Wilson did not see a way Trump could be the leader of the free world and “hold the lives and security of  millions  of Americans in his hands.

.”His tiny-tiny lemur-paw hands,”

— On Texas Sen.Ted Cruz. “The bargain Cruz made … to win over Trump voters has reduced him from a Republican Party rock star to something akin to  Trump World house pet: Tolerated, occasionally praised, but mostly kept out of sight lest he soils the carpet.”

— Subchapter title: “We hate big government, except when it’s gettin’ the Messicans!”

“Everything Trump Touches Dies” by Wilson is a great, eye-opening read, from a staunch conservative who, early on, saw “The Chosen One” for the person for the person he is: A celebrity hypnotist vomiting out … spittle-flecked, nationalist message(s) to the furious and the fabrile….”


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